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As Prime Minister Stephen Harper tries this summer to develop a fresh political agenda for his struggling government when Parliament reopens, he should take a long, hard look at what's happening in Britain for some much-needed inspiration.In a bid to correct some of his country's worst poverty problems, new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched an ambitious $17-billion affordable housing plan that over the next three years will see 50,000 new units of social housing built annually. Under the program, Brown will double spending on social housing as part of a wide-ranging plan that touches every aspect of the housing market.
The new program, unveiled last week, is part of Brown's pledge to make affordable housing a major priority for his government.
Brown's plan calls for 3 million new affordable homes to be built by 2020. To achieve that, Brown will free up government-owned land for new housing developments and form housing partnerships with local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors. The program has won wide support across the political spectrum.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...